Thursday, April 2, 2009

Venezuelan antisemitism.

The Venezuelan Jewish community traces its roots back more than 200 years and has no history of tension with the local population. Before the rise of Hugo Chavez, the Jews were a welcome part of a society known for its warm temperament and amiable disposition, free from the discrimination and anti-Semitic violence in many other countries. Over the last 10 years conditions have worsened dramatically, and although 15,000 still remain, more than half the Jewish population has already fled.
Previously, I had heard a fifth or a third of Venezuelan Jews had left. I'm not sure if 1/2 here represents uncertainty in numbers or worsening conditions.

Something very interesting about the article, which can be found here, is how such a rabid antisemitic atmosphere is created.

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